Straight-knitting machine



{No.Model.) I v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. WILGOMB.

- STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. Noi 408,562'. Patented Aug. 6, 1889.

Hlllllllill N. Pneus, Phmunmmpher. wuhingxn. n. q

(No Model.) v 3 Sheen-Sheet F. WILCOMB.

STRAIGHT KN'TTING MAHINE. No. 408,562. Patented Aug. 6L 1889.

attente L3 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.) I P. WILGOMB.

' STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE. No. 408,562. f Patented Aug. 6, 1889.

" 51m/vento@ with UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK WILCOMB, OF4 PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE VIL- COMB KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

sTRAlGl-lT-KNlTTlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,562, dated August 6, 1889. Application iled April 22, 1889- Serial No. 308,107. ('No model.)

means being intended for use in connection with fashioning-machines, so that the speed may be automatically reduced when the fashioning or shaping begins and the machine stopped entirely when the garment is completed or when the work is removed or runs off the needles. I have shown the mechanism in combination with a universal machine, or one adapted by narrowing or widening at both ends to make any desired garment; but it will be understood that the invention may be applied to a machine which shapes at only one.

The invention includes driving mechanism automatically-operating means for changing the speed when the fashioning begins, and stop mechanism and tension devices for the fabric.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 an end elevation, of a knitting-machine embodying my invention, parts in each view being in section and some removed and broken away. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of parts.

In the drawings, A is the upper and B the lower supporting-frame.

B2 are the `slide-bars, connected by crossbraces d a;

F is the cam-shaft, carrying four sets Vof shifting-cams Qc y y', similar to sets of cams 0c y shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me on the 18th day of June, 1389, No. 405,638, the duplicate sets being intended for fashioning at both ends of the machine instead of at one end only, as in that application.

The machine is driven normally from a belt-wheel Z fixed on the shaft U. The belt from this pulley passes about the double pulley O, which is loose on the cam-shaft F. This pulley has a pinion e2 formed thereon, which drives the shaft E through the gear f2, and the cam-shaft is driven from the shaft E by gears c and j on the shaft E and camshaft, respectively. The shaft E also drives the slide-bars, for which purpose it has a facewheel d3, connected by a stud et and sliding block l directly to a cross-head d', which 6o moves in ways d2, secured to the frame. These ways are on a bracket, a front view of which is shown in Fig. 4C. The cross-head is channeled to receive the block l. Fig. shows the cross-head in central vertical section. The cross-heads movement is transmitted to the slides by rack-bar D, pinion C', gears C C, and racks b I). In order to render the movement uniform, the face-plate is slotted to receive a sliding block on the pin 4, and said pin pro- 7o jects into a cam-groove G, which, as shown, will cause the pin to move away from and toward the center of motion, thus controlling the imparted movement. Fig. 6 shows a section through the face-plate, taken across the 7 5 'slot Multiplying mechanism is used with this connection, consisting of cross-head pinions h2 and racks D and c2 on the bar D and guides d2, respectively. The bar D reciprocates through the cross-head, and the chan- 8o nel for the sliding connection is located to one side of the vertical plane of the said bar. Alongside the pulley Z is a second smaller pulley Z', this being loose on the shaft and adapted to be driven from the pulley Z by S5 clutch-blocks z, arranged in sockets on the main pulley and between the two. Springsl keep the clutch-blocks of the pulley Z in engagement with the inner periphery of the supplemental pulley. This pulley, also, is con- 9o nected to the intermediate pulley O by a belt, and both belts pass by pulleys s s', carried by rods S S. The rods are held in normal position to keep the belts tight by pawls p p,and when so held the full motion is transmitted through the main pulley Z, the other pulley being smaller and ruiming in advance of the larger one, the clutchblocks being arranged to slip for the purpose. Vhen, however, the

pawl p is released and the belt freed, the roo clutches will operate, and the machine will thus be driven from the smaller pulley at a reduced rate of speed. The pawl is operated automatically, and in the present instance I utilize the main pattern-chain O for the purpose, said chain being lettered similarly in my previous application and acting upon a lever Il for setting in operation the fashioning mechanism. The chain and its sprocket O2 are supported by a bracket o, and said sprocket is operated by an eccentric P on the shaft E, through rod 1S, bcll-crank 19, rod p19, disk 08, and ratchet and pawl of 0:". The holding-pawl@ is on a rock-shaft 5, which is in bearings 6 6 and connected to a pivoted arm I"- by a rod 7 and arm 8 on the rock-shaft. The arm P2 is also supported by the bracket os close to the pattern-chain O', to be operated bya projection 8" on said chain. This is located just in advance of the projections on the chain for operating the lever I, which connects with the fashioning mechanism, so that the speed is reduced before the fashioningbegins. For stopping the machine when the garment is finished, the other pawl p is thrown out, for which purpose it is fixed to a second rockshaft 10, extending to the other end of the machine.

The pattern mechanism is duplicated, as shown at M at this end of the machine, and the second rock-shaft is connected therewith, to be operated in a manner similar to that above described by rod 11 and arm 12. The pattern-chain (similar to the one O, first mentioned) sets the fashioning devices in opera tion at this end M of the machine. This chain is operated from the shaft E by mechanism similar to that described for the first chain.

Ihile I have shown the operating-connections as extending from the pawls to the two sets of pattern mechanisms, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to a machine which fashions at only one end, in which case both pawls would be connected in the same way to their operating-arms, and these would be arranged to be operated fromy the same chain.

The means whereby the machine is stopped when the work is removed from the needles or runs off the same is now to be described. T is the take-up roller, supported in bearings t and operated from the shaft E by an eccentric e, eccentric-rod c', pawl cl2, and ratchet e3. On the shaft of the roller at cach end is a loose arm T', and these have bearings in which rollers r t are journaled. The fabric from the machine passes down outside and under the roller r, thence up over the take* up roller, and down between it and the presser-roller v on the other side. This tends constantly to lift the front roller r, and in order to apply a tension to the work the loose arm T has an extension 14,110 which a spring 15 is connected, this acting to keep the roller down. The other loose arm T is connected with both pawls p p through their rockshafts by a chain e and arms 1G 17 on the shafts. When the thread breaks and the work runs off the needles, the loosened fabric allows the spring 15 to move the arms T', and thus throw out both pawls p p. I have shown, also, a tension device adapted to engage the widened portion of afabric-as, for instance, the upper part of a sleeve. This consists of a band b', to which the start-hooks are attached, said band ruiming about a roller :e to a drum y. A second band runs from a small pulley on the drum over a pulley 17 to a spring 2 and by this arrangement the tension of the spring is variable to suit the dccreased width of the fabric as it is narrowed.

It will be understood that the low-speed connection maybe fast and the high-speed loose and the same mechanism employed to change from a low to a high speed,instead of as referred to, this being a mere reversal of the mechanism above described.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a knitting-machine adapted to fashion, means for driving the same at a normal rate of speed for plain knitting, means for driving at a lower rate of speed for fashioning, apawl for holding the high-speed connections in operation, a pattern mechanism and connections between the pawl and said mechanism for releasing the high-speed connection, and an automatieally-operatin g clutch for driving the low-speed connection when the high-v speed is released, substantially as described.

2. In a fashioning knitting-machine, the fast and loose pulleys, the belt-connections therefrom,means for releasing the belt of the fast pulley, and an automatic clutch in cngagement with the loose pulley for driving the same, substantially as described.

In combination with a high-speed driving-connection, a low-speed driving-connection, a pawl for holding the high-speed connection to work, a rock-shaft carrying said pawl, pattern mechanism, and operating connections from the rock-shaft to the pattern mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In combination, in a fashioning-machine, high and low speed driving-connections, a pawl for holding the high-speed connection to work, a pattern mechanism for setting in motion the fashioning devices, and connections between said pawl and the same pattern mechanism which operates the fashioning dcvices.

5. In combination, the two pulleys, the beltconnections to impart different rates of speed to the machine, means for releasing one beltconnection, automatic means for rendering the other belt-connection operative, and automatic means for releasing said last-named belt-connection, substantially as described.

(S. In combination, the driving-conncctions, the movable roller for the fabric, a pawl for holding the driving-connections to their work, and a connection between said movable roller and said holding-pawl, whereby the machine IOO IIO

is stopped when the fabric is removed from l the needles, substantially as described.

7. In combination, the two driving-connections, the pawlsfor holding said connections to their work, pattern mechanism and connections to one pawl for rendering one set of vdriving f connections inoperative, an` antomatic clutch for rendering the other set operative, the movable roller for the -fab ric, and connections .therefrom to the pawls for` releasing both sets of driving means when the thread is removed from the needles.

S. The tension device for the widened'portion of the fabric, consisting of the band h', the drum y, the pulley ,'and the spring, and the4 connection between the spring and pulley x', substantially as described.

9. In combination, the slides, the crosshead having` a channel, connections between the cross-head and slides,l the slotted faceplate, the sliding connection between the faceplate and cross-head, and a cam having a groove G, said groove being adapted to receive theprojecting portion of the sli di ng connection, substantially as described.

movable roller and the holding-pawls for releasing` both driving-connections when the thread is removed from the needles.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two snbscribing witnesses.

FRANK VILCOMB.

lVitnesses:

DANIEL MCNIVEN, MILLARD F. MUNROE. 

